9. Blazing Saddles
directed by Mel Brooks
The King of Parody takes on the Western. Mel Brooks’ movie world is one populated with physical comedy, puns, sight gags, and all the trappings of broad madcap comedy. Blazing Saddles is one of his most delightful films. Here are some of the best performances from Madeline Kahn, Gene Wilder, and Brooks himself. While mostly being a send-up of western film tropes, Blazing Saddles also takes on racism – Brooks was one of the first to ridicule racism by putting racist words and opinions in the mouths of idiots. Interesting bit of trivia – in 1974 Mel Brooks was nominated for two Oscars, one for the screenplay of Young Frankenstein, and the other for the title song from Blazing Saddles. Charming little song, although it’s no “Camptown Races.”